It is shown that simple algebraic methods may be used to design three-dimensional (3-D) recursive digital filters for two important applications: first, the selective enhancement of a two-dimensional (2-D) signal that is moving with time along a linear trajectory at known velocity and, second, the selective enhancement of 3-D spatially planar waves. The design techniques involve first-order 3-D networks in the continuous domain and proceed by analogy with an extension of the simple circuit theoretic concepts of resonance and

factor. A 3-D spatial straight-line filter is designed in the frequency domain as a 3-D planar filter and, conversely, a 3-D spatially planar filter is designed in the frequency domain as a 3-D straight-line filter.